Ask an Insider

Casting Roles with Nudity or Sex?

Quite a few actors won't come in if there's nudity for a part. A lot of the time, producers and director will say, "Oh, they'll want the part enough that they'll do the nudity." No, they won't.

Worst Advice?

Eight years, several leading roles in films, incredible stage runs, and creating my own film festival later, I can say that walking out of that jerk's office was the best thing I could have done.

How Do Actors Teach You About Their Character?

Every actor I work with shows me something about the character, and often the play, that I did not see initially. Andréa Burns, who played Daniela in "In the Heights," is a perfect example.

What Do You Wish You Had Known Before Moving to New York?

"As my grandmother used to say, 'The early bird gets the worm.' I never thought that would serve any purpose in my life, until I moved to New York."

What Actor Do You Regret Overlooking?

"Perhaps the biggest mistake I ever made was turning down Danny DeVito. This was before 'Taxi,' and he was an unknown."

Do You Create Characters With Certain Actors in Mind?

TV writers for hit shows discuss how they write their characters and whether they have other actors in mind when they create them.

How Do You Decide on a Career Plan For an Actor?

I am not a fan of the term "career plan." I prefer the word "campaign," as it is more active and does presuppose that one must get out the vote and not just strategize.

Does Being on a Reality TV Show Hurt or Help Aspiring Actors?

"Yes, Hollywood loves personalities, but unless I have a gun to my head, I would be hard-pressed to hire anyone who's appeared on 'Laguna Beach' or 'The Hills.'"

Top Tips for Playing Emotional Scenes

The most important advice I can give is do not rehearse. Steven Spielberg said, "Anytime an actor says a line, they lose some of their innocence."